Darius and Elania landed far off into the distance in the Cloister.
“Lori,” said Elania crying.
Darius switched back to Astrid who hugged Elania.
“She’s gone Elania. I’m so sorry.”
“No you don’t understand,” said Elania pushing Astrid back. “Lori and I were merged in the Continuum. One can’t survive without the other. You have to get me to the tower of the Continuum. I have to go there now.”
“Why do you have to?”
“I have to teleport there before I go off. In the event of one of us dying, the other dies and there powers activate. My powers are speed. It could cause unspeakable rifts that can’t be controlled. I won’t have you die that way. The blast will destroy you and who knows what here in the Cloister.”
“I won’t lose you.”
“You have to. Get me there now!”
They walked over to the tower and over to the idol of the Continuum. Astrid made hand signs and barricaded the door with shadows.
“You have to open the portal so I can go.”
“But…” Astrid trailed off.
“Dammit Astrid do it now.”
Astrid made some of the hand signs it took to open the doorway but didn’t want to make the last one.
“Wait,” said Darius, “this is the prophesy.”
“What do you mean?” Astrid whispered.
“We thought about this being you Elania and Lorelai to kill Fereneses. What if it was you, Elania and –“
“You,” said Astrid.
“Astrid please,” said Elania.
“There’s only one way to be able to merge.” Darius noted.
Astrid made the final sign, touched the idol and disappeared. She came to in a room of white and a bright blue and black door.
“You shouldn’t be here. I am the Door to the Continuum.”
“You are exactly what I need.” Astrid replied.
“You possess darkness and may not pass.”
“I am here to fulfill the prophesy to kill Fereneses. If you let me through I may merge with Elania.”
“I am looking into the future of the events if this is to be true and it is. I will let you pass. Although I must warn you, once you merge, you are bonded to her as long as you both shall live.”
“I understand and I come in fully aware.”
“Very well step through and receive this gift.”
The door opened and Astrid walked through. Her world went bright white and blue and she reemerged back on the cloister.
“Astrid,” said Elania now shaking with Continuum energy. “What did you do? What did you do?”
“I crossed the Door to the Continuum.”
“But why,” Elania asked now vibrating with growing speed.
“Because I care about you,” Astrid replied.
“Just as friends or…”
“How is this for an answer?” Astrid said with a smile. Then she kissed Elania.
There was a swirl of shadows and they merged. Elania, Astrid and Darius became the Ethereal Trio.
“Wow,” said Elania taking over, “This is a power I never felt before.”
“Greetings Elania,” said a voice.
“Holy shit Darius is that you?” Elania asked surprised.
“Yes, and you need to listen carefully. We need to let Astrid drive.”
“Why,” both Elania and Astrid said at once.
“There’s only one way to kill him and it’s risky. I only did this once and it was when Gallia threw me into something. Let Astrid take over and I’ll explain. The Ethereal Trio became Astrid. “Astrid I need you to go as fast as you can. I’ll feed you hand signs in sequential order and I need you to make them perfectly. We are going to kill this son of a bitch for everyone we’ve lost.”
Astrid started running fast in a circle as Fereneses broke down the door. She started making the hand signs according to what Darius fed her. Fereneses held a palm out, but the waves bounced off Astrid as her body was covered in shadows. Fereneses fan forward.
“Darius I’m feeling weird,” said Astrid.
“You’re on the final hand sign. Hold it until you are just at him. Alright let’s do this. Run at him.” Astrid bolted forward as Fereneses ran at them. When the Ethereal Trio was close enough Darius called out “now!”
Astrid made the final hand sign and ran into Fereneses and phases right through him. Fereneses froze in place as shadows from Astrid’s jump flowed out of him and into her. His body cracked as it was torn apart. Fereneses cried out and exploded. Cloister clergy were descending upon them.
“That’s a problem,” said Elania.
“And that is why you must take over Eli. Run to the native plane idol and jump.”
“At that speed, we won’t know when we are going to be on earth.”
“Any time is better than here.”
Elania took over and ran forward. She brushed past the Cloister clergy and over to the native plane idol. She ran up and jumped into it. They came to and unmerged on Earth, but it was different. It seemed to be a battle zone. A huge pile of rubble came flying at them, glowed purple and disappeared. A battle worn Son of Time pulled them over to safety.
“Who the hell are you?” Son asked.
“I’m Elania and this is Astrid,” Elania stated.
“Jesus girl’s way to be 20 years late.”
“Twenty years,” both Elania and Astrid called out shocked.
“Welcome to 2028,” said Mathew joining them.